Asociación Latinoamericana de Producción Animal (ALPA)
Abstract
The influence of calving season on milk production and composition was studied in 16 adult (3rd lactation) water buffaloes from a single form in southern Italy over a 3 yr period. The data were separated into two groups according to calving season: group A of animals that calved from winter to spring and group B of those that calved throughout summer and autumn. Daily milk production and lactation length over the whole period (1997-2000) were higher (P<0.01) in group B than in A (9.11 vs. 8.55 kg and 275 vs. 258 d), but milk fat content was higher (P<0.05) in A than B (8.88 vs. 8.41%). No differences between groups were observed in milk protein content (4.7%). It was concluded that the calving season had little effect on the net income from this herd (In English)